SC’s a top 10 importer of fireworks. How to keep all your fingers this holiday
Fourth of July weekend is almost here, bringing with it bright lights, whizzing shells and extravagant “finale boxes,” that will delight kids and have parents anxiously side-eyeing the neighbor’s bushes.
But fireworks are not all fun and games — in 2025, there were 15 firework-related deaths and 13,000 firework injuries nationwide. The loud booms can also often trigger veterans with PTSD. South Carolina’s Department of Public Health warns America’s 250th birthday could skyrocket injuries alongside sales.
“Don’t take safety for granted with any of these things,” said Kevin Poore, director of the Department of Health’s Safe Kids program. “Best practice would be to leave fireworks to professionals as much as possible.”
Last year, Americans lit off 298.9 million pounds of fireworks at home, according to the American Pyrotechnic Association, and South Carolina’s firework sales pack a significant part of that punch. In 2025, South Carolina imported more than $30.7 million worth of fireworks, equivalent to more than $5 per resident, putting the state in the top 10 for per capita sales, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Despite their prevalence, it’s oftentimes safer to avoid any amateur pyrotechnics, experts say — try the displays at the Fort Jackson Independence Day Celebration or the Fireflies Stadium for a professional show — but if you do decide to put on your own, a few safety tips can make all the difference.
“This is an extra special anniversary year, so just hopefully we don’t see any increase in any injuries due to this stuff,“ Poore said. “We’re hopeful that with education, and with just individual citizens being diligent and doing things safely that we won’t see any, any spikes in injuries or anything like that.”
- Sparklers? 12 and over please
One surprising culprit of injuries can be sparklers. Though their mesmerizing sparks can be a lively way to celebrate, they burn at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit — a temperature hot enough to burn through most metals. Public health experts don’t deem them safe for any kids under 12.
“I think a lot of parents think of sparklers as this safer version of fireworks that is something that’s safe for the children to handle,” Poore said. “The truth is that even those, quote, ‘fireworks’ can be extremely dangerous to children.”
- Water is your new best friend
The Department of Public Health recommends that those lighting fireworks at home should always keep a bucket of water on hand. Additionally, soaking all fireworks before throwing them in the trash ensures nothing is still ignited. Even if a firework looks like it has gone out, it might still be able to set fire to other objects or the trash can itself.
- Aim away
Never point a firework at another person, animal or anything flammable, like dry grass or bushes.
- Patience is a virtue
If a firework does not seem to ignite fully, do not attempt to relight it. Wait at least 20 minutes, then dunk it in your water bucket and dispose.
- Stay sober and sane
Handling fireworks while impaired by alcohol or other mind-altering substances can have disastrous consequences, such as burns to yourself or others.
“Alcohol and fireworks, just generally, that doesn’t mix, and so we need to be specially careful there,” Poole said.
- Be considerate
Though people nearby may not be physically harmed by your fireworks show, it could bring back traumatic memories for some veterans living with PTSD.
If you know someone attending your holiday event may have PTSD, or if you’re unsure, it’s best to find alternatives — like sparklers or a light show — or notify all guests in advance about your plans and the exact time you’ll be setting the fireworks off.
If you or a loved one are triggered by firework shows, there are steps that can help disrupt flashbacks or a flight-fight-freeze response, like breathing in and out in counts of four, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Support for coping with PTSD attacks is also available in the form of community and professional help.
“What’s important is for them to remind themselves they are not alone,” Columbia VA psychologist Dr. Kristina Seymour told WIS in an interview Wednesday. The Dorn VA Medical Center provides individual and group counseling services to veterans living with PTSD and other mental illness.
The Columbia VA can be contacted at 803-776-4000. A 24-hour crisis hotline is available to veterans by dialing 988, then pressing one.